It’s been called “The best e-mountain bike you can buy right now” by bicycling.com while Bike Radar said “Fuel EXe could help to redefine eMTBs”. So it’s fair to say there’s more than a little excitement about the launch of this disruptive beast. In this week’s blog we look at why Fuel EXe is set to break the mould and who might want to get one.
Have you heard the noise about the Trek Fuel EXe? No, not the sound from the motor – there’s virtually none of that. This is a new breed of e-mountain bike that offers just the right amount of assist when you want it but with an almost silent, natural feeling.
Everyone is talking about this bike and the excitement across the industry is palpable. We were already getting calls from people reserving theirs within days of Fuel EXe being teased by Trek. As one of the country’s biggest Trek partners, Big Bear Bikes gets priority access to these bikes and we have the full range on the way, from the 9.5 at £5,750 to the 9.9 XX1 AXS at £13,250.
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So, what’s the excitement about?
Fuel EXe bridges the gap between traditional, analogue bikes and e-bikes. Essentially, it offers enough assist to prolong those days out in the saddle by sparing your legs when you need a bit of help. But it doesn’t come with what some consider downsides to e-bikes, including the extra weight and the noise from the motor. The entire e-bike componentry on Fuel EXe adds only 3.9kg and the sound of the motor is almost imperceptible.
The overall effect is that Fuel EXe allows riders to experience true, natural riding; all the fun of flicking around a fun and lively trail bike without the elements that prevent what you might call “purists” from going e-bike. We reckon this will be the one that persuades a lot of people to go for electric assist for the first time. No wonder it’s being called a game-changer and a mould-breaker. It really is making waves in the mountain biking community. If Singletrack World are calling it “probably the most significant bike launched this decade” then it’s clearly something special.
Who’s it for?
Fuel EXe is going to have hugely broad appeal. It can be ridden like a light analogue bike if you remove the battery; it can be used simply for assist up steeper, longer climbs to make the downhill fun last longer; or it can help you keep up with a group if you’re still a work in progress on the fitness front.
The market for e-bikes has historically been riders who are into their 40s and 50s but we think Fuel EXe will bring that age profile into much younger brackets.
The tech you get
We’ll focus on the Fuel EXe 9.7, which retails at £7,100 and comes in five – FIVE! – colourways: Matte Galactic Grey to Black Fade, Matte Pennyflake, Deep Smoke, Mulsanne Blue and Satin Baja Yellow. The 9.7 in Matte Pennyflake is pictured above.
Key specs:
Our team’s verdict
Alex said: “We’re really excited about Trek Fuel EXe. It’s a mid-power e-bike that’s made even lighter. You can take out the main battery so you have a 19kg bike which is more agile than a full fat e-bike and better to chuck about.
“It’s a great choice for somebody who has lost a bit of fitness but still wants the riding qualities of an enduro or trail bike. You can quite easily turn off the assistance and do some downhill or whatever and then turn it back on for a steep climb.
“I would use it to supplement rides so I can do more runs or greater distance without fatiguing. Having now ridden this new model, the whole team say it’s just enough assist to extend your ride without making the bike feel less agile and maintaining a playful feel.
“We all think Trek are onto a winner here.”
So that’s the lowdown on this truly groundbreaking release from Trek. Come and see the range in store now, and look out for an exciting announcement about when you can try it out on our socials and newsletter next week. We will be stocking further models over the coming weeks.
